The Five Best Science Fiction Books - Iain Banks Included

Five best science fiction books? Why did I pick only five? For the challenge I suspect. For the record – science fiction is my all time favorite writing genre, and limiting myself to only five is the challenge. I will start with what I consider to be the ultimate sci-fi book and, although I am listing five here, I do not really consider them in any sort of order. One is no better than the other. But they are head and shoulders above everything else.

Ignoring the inevitably doomed-to-failure attempts to turn this into a movie, this is without a doubt the ultimate sci-fi book. An entire new political system, and in fact an entire religious order devoted to politics. The Bene Gesserit. An imaginary substance, known as “spice,” which enhances mental abilities, allows travel between worlds at faster than light speed, and which becomes, of course, “the most valuable substance in the universe.”

This spice grows only on one planet – Dune, a desert planet long thought to be largely devoid of life. Hidden within the nooks and crannies of this planet are the Fremen, a warrior like people oppressed for millennia. Throw in a truly bad guy, and a truly good guy sent to lead the Fremen out of servitude and you have a recipe for success. Frank Herbert was a genius and this is his best work by far. A must read sci-fi book. You can, unfortunately ignore all the subsequent books, and especially those written by Herbert's son after his death. Marketing garbage.

This was hard. I cannot make list of the best 5 science fiction books without at least one Banks’ book. In fact, I almost added all of Iain Banks’ books to the list and left it at that. Banks has “created an entire culture called the “Culture,” from the building blocks of our own and a number of other imaginary cultures. Where will humanity end up? Banks knows and I suspect his writing is somewhat prophetic. Assuming we do not wipe ourselves out completely, I have no trouble imagining this is our future. Once again politics and intrigue form the basis of the story, although – in this one – nothing happens.

But, nothing happens in such a way as to force you to turn the pages to find out what doesn’t happen next. Wonderful reading, although I suggest reading some of the other culture books before this one, and the books after – well, not so good. This was the pinnacle of Iain Banks career as far as I am concerned. I nearly added “Consider Phlebas,” “The player of games,” or “Use of weapons,” but this is the one.

Iain Banks is also a man after my own heart: disgusted by the British government Inc’s involvement in the Iraq war, he disowned his citizenship, cut his passport into tiny pieces and posted it to the Prime Minister’s office. The money-grubbing troglodyte in office at that time completely misunderstood the message and offered him a new one.

Another tricky one. How can I have a 5 best list without including Harry Harrison? Not possible, but picking just one book from the prolific writings of Mr. Harrison is all but impossible; still, I will go with the stainless steel rat, which spawned a succession of later books and pretty much mirrors my own opinion on the inevitability of government taking over the little man.

The lead character, the “Stainless Steel Rat,” mistakenly thinks he has pulled off a successful bank robbery, only to discover he has been tricked into working for the government. In the Special Corps, the elite law-enforcement and spy agency led by the former greatest crook in the Galaxy, Harold P. Inskipp, he is coerced into the ranks of an organization that is entirely constituted of ex-criminals. Fantastic reading and a wonderful imagination definitely makes my top five.

Another prolific writer, Poul Anderson’s commentary on life, the universe and everything (you know where I am going with number 5) are spot on, as are his imaginary worlds and time travel scenarios. Once again very difficult to pick a single book from the many, but Time Patrol does it for me. Another long series was spawned from the first one, but any serious science fiction reader needs this in their collection.

The Time patrol follows a number of special agents in their travels through time to repair any damage done by evil operators intent on subverting the time line for their personal gain. Pretty sure this spawned the movie “Time cop,” but no credit was given as far as I know. Another must-read author and hard to choose just none for the list.

The hitchhiker’s guide is one of the funniest and truest books ever written. The earth is demolished to make way for a hyperspace bypass and the local inhabitants were ignorant of the appeals procedure, mainly because they had thus far failed to develop faster than light travel, preventing them from visiting the necessary complaints department on Alpha Centauri.

Reading this book will take you to familiar places instantly recognizable as being no different in hyperspace than in your hometown. Adams was witty, funny and a keen observer of the human condition. He was also a committed atheist and coined some of my favorite phrases including: "Isn't it enough to see that a garden is beautiful without having to believe that there are fairies at the bottom of it too?"

Not as prolific a writer as most of the others on this list, but everything he ever wrote is worth reading. Incidentally, the hitchhikers guide is a five book trilogy, and they are all worth reading.

Now I have finished, I am stricken to remember all the authors that should have had a book on this list. Philip K Dick, Larry Niven, E.E. “Doc” Smith, Isaac Asimov, and numerous others. I will have to make a top ten, or top twenty list now….